Questions posed by men when reading to children were found to have sparked “imaginative discussions” in the study at Harvard University in the US.

Researchers said it was therefore better for children’s language development because they tend to be challenged more.

After a year of being read to by parents to determine the effect on infants’ language, girls in particular were found to have benefitted more when read to by a male.

Elisabeth Duursma, who conducted the research, said: "The impact is huge, particularly if dads start reading to kids under the age of two. Reading is seen as a female activity and kids seem to be more tuned in when their dad reads to them – it’s special.”

She found that men and women approach the task differently, with women more likely to ask factual questions, such as, “How many apples do you see?” and men favouring more abstract questions, the Daily Mail reports.

“Dads were more likely to say something like, ‘Oh look, a ladder. Do you remember when I had that ladder in my truck?’” Dr Duursma said.

“That is great for children’s language development because they have to use their brains more. It’s more cognitively challenging.”

Justin Coulson, a parenting expert, added that reading to children expands their vocabulary.

“We help them to feel safe and this can have a profound effect on their capacity for learning,” he added.